EXTRAORDINARILY RARE ENGRAVED & GOLD-PLATED STEVENS LORD SINGLE SHOT TARGET PISTOL 3-BARREL SET & ACCESSORIES THAT BELONGED TO RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL SHOOTER IRA PAINE.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE ENGRAVED & GOLD-PLATED STEVENS LORD SINGLE SHOT TARGET PISTOL 3-BARREL SET & ACCESSORIES THAT BELONGED TO RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL SHOOTER IRA PAINE. SN 19. Cal. 22 & 32 RF. Fantastic pistol with two 12″ 22 caliber bbls and an 11″ 32 caliber unnumbered bbl that has been reduced from a longer length. Pistol and one 22 bbl and the 32 bbl are spectacularly engraved by one of the finest master engravers of the age, probably one of the Ulrichs. The engraving is full coverage on the frame, trigger guard and both bbls with very little undecorated space. Engraving consists of intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with fine shaded background. There are fleur-de-lis style borders behind the raised area of the frame with a full checkered trigger and checkered finger rest. Front strap is engraved with a checkerboard of fleur-de-lis patterns and the buttcap with four heart-shaped devices. Hammer, which is in the white, is engraved with fine feather patterns on the sides and has a hand-checkered spur. Screw heads are all engraved. Mounted with full checkered pearl grips and has full gold wash on the frame, the engraved 22 bbl and the 32 bbl. The second, matching numbered 22 bbl is blue and is missing its front sight. Rear sight is probably an old replacement. This gun, SN 19, is purportedly the lowest serial number presentation known and its engraving is far superior to the Annie Oakley or Buffalo Bill example. Ira Albert Paine first was trained as a vocalist and musician when he appeared in the area of Hebronville, MA. His keen interest in shooting and hunting soon came to the attention of local shooters who enticed him to enter local shooting contests, primarily with shotguns. He soon became a local celebrity and before long went on tour to various shooting contests around the country, winning most that he entered. He shot against some of the leading champion shooters of the day including Ward and Bogardus. His fame and celebrity soon led him to the stage where he gave shooting demonstrations with not only shotgun and rifle, but evolved into an incredible pistol shot. From about 1882 to 1889, Mr. Paine was on tour in Europe, Russia and Turkey; continually from 1882 to 1885, with periodic engagements thereafter. Mr. Paine was known as the most famous of all shooters of his day and is one of the pioneers of exhibitionist shooters. During this time, he returned to the U.S. occasionally to participate in shooting contests, most of which he won. During his career, he invented a feather-filled glass target ball and adjustable target sights for his revolvers. During his tours in Europe he performed for virtually all of European royalty as well as the common masses. Mr. Paine died in September, 1889 in Paris and his body was returned to the U.S. for internment. Mr. Paine’s career was short but brilliant. He became a national champion shooter with both shotgun and handgun but was equally skilled with the Winchester rifle. Accompanied by five of Mr. Paine’s original glass balls, two large scrapbooks, mostly filled with press clippings of Mr. Paine’s contests and appearances. Several deal with the Parisian firearms firm of Gastinne-Renette where he fired several records and won a prestigious gold medal. There are several facsimile targets bearing the certification signature of Gastinne Renette. Also included are two 7″x5″ pamphlets dated 1887 entitled “CHEVALIER IRA PAINE, MASTER SHOT OF THE WORLD/A SKETCH OF HIS WONDERFUL CAREER WITH DIRECTIONS HOW TO BECOME A MARKSMAN”. Also included are two wonderful original photographs of Mr. Paine; one from Budapest with him dressed as a nobleman in long coat, jewels and a plumed hat, wearing a sword and having a hand-written inscription on the back in an unknown language dated August 9, 1885; the other, a 9″ x 6 3/4″ studio image of Mr. Paine standing beside an elaborately carved table upon which rests a Colt sgl action Army revolver, an engraved Winchester Model 1866 and a European dbl bbl shotgun. Mr. Paine is in full-length button puttees and wearing what is probably a suede or velvet jacket with a medal on his left chest, wearing a hunting cap and holding this very Steven’s Lord pistol in a shooting stance. Also included is an envelope with a raised gold-embossed cartouche on the flat bearing his name and a Smith & Wesson revolver. Also included is an original issue “The Rifle” magazine dated April, 1887 of magazine which includes a large article about Ira Paine. There are also seven steel engravings of Mr. Paine in formal attire with a medal at his throat. In addition, there are two small leather covered containers, one with a beautiful gold medal with red and white cloissione center with crown and cross; and the other containing a large bronze medal from the Hotel Victoria in London with the likeness of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria. In addition, there are 22 hand-written letters from Ira Paine with postmarks throughout Europe from 1882 through 1885. Most are addressed to his sister Jennie and Mrs. Ira Paine. In addition, there is a small tin candy box containing 30-40 original square-corner playing cards that are gold-embossed with Ira Paine’s cartouche. The steel die for this cartouche is enclosed. In addition, there are 10 more of these cards in one of Mr. Paine’s envelopes which is marked on the front “Shot by Ira A. Paine“. These cards all have bullet holes in various locations. There is also a roll of targets, one of which has been shot. In addition, there is an unusual buckskin flap holster with pearl button that fits the Stevens pistol precisely. Most importantly, is an original poster of Ira A. Paine in multi-color with his image as the centerpiece surrounded by gold geometric borders and his various firearms in the corners including this very engraved Stevens pistol with pearl grips and gold finish. The bottom center pictures a stack of six multi-colored balls over a ribbon inscribed “PAINE’S PAT FILLED GLASS BALLS”. And finally, there are two appearance posters, in Cyrillic writing, for Ira Paine and his wife, dated 1883. This is an extraordinary grouping for an incredible international shooting champion. CONDITION: Pistol and engraved 22 barrel are very fine with the barrel retaining 60-70% original gold wash, strong and bright in sheltered areas, somewhat worn in the center area of the barrel. Frame retains 40-50% strong original gold wash, mostly in sheltered areas and on the butt cap with the balance a dark mustard patina. Grips have a crack and a chip by the right escutcheon, otherwise are sound showing light wear with great fire. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with some light roughness in front of the chamber. The spare .32 caliber barrel is fine and retains traces of dark gold wash, being mostly a gray metal color. Bright shiny bore. The blued .22 barrel with matching serial number, retains about 90% strong original blue turning dull over the mid-part of the barrel. Bright shiny bore. The leather covered medal box has a detached lid, otherwise both boxes are fine. Leather holster is fine with light to moderate soil. Letters, targets, scrapbooks and contents are generally fine but yellowed and brittle with age. The Ira Paine poster is wrinkled with a few holes and edge damage with some light water staining and all three posters are shrink-wrapped to foam board. Target balls are all fine. 4-37575, 37579 (100,000-125,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2440	$0.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE ENGRAVED & GOLD-PLATED STEVENS LORD SINGLE SHOT TARGET PISTOL 3-BARREL SET & ACCESSORIES THAT BELONGED TO RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL SHOOTER IRA PAINE. SN 19. Cal. 22 & 32 RF. Fantastic pistol with two 12″ 22 caliber bbls and an 11″ 32 caliber unnumbered bbl that has been reduced from a longer length. Pistol and one 22 bbl and the 32 bbl are spectacularly engraved by one of the finest master engravers of the age, probably one of the Ulrichs. The engraving is full coverage on the frame, trigger guard and both bbls with very little undecorated space. Engraving consists of intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with fine shaded background. There are fleur-de-lis style borders behind the raised area of the frame with a full checkered trigger and checkered finger rest. Front strap is engraved with a checkerboard of fleur-de-lis patterns and the buttcap with four heart-shaped devices. Hammer, which is in the white, is engraved with fine feather patterns on the sides and has a hand-checkered spur. Screw heads are all engraved. Mounted with full checkered pearl grips and has full gold wash on the frame, the engraved 22 bbl and the 32 bbl. The second, matching numbered 22 bbl is blue and is missing its front sight. Rear sight is probably an old replacement. This gun, SN 19, is purportedly the lowest serial number presentation known and its engraving is far superior to the Annie Oakley or Buffalo Bill example. Ira Albert Paine first was trained as a vocalist and musician when he appeared in the area of Hebronville, MA. His keen interest in shooting and hunting soon came to the attention of local shooters who enticed him to enter local shooting contests, primarily with shotguns. He soon became a local celebrity and before long went on tour to various shooting contests around the country, winning most that he entered. He shot against some of the leading champion shooters of the day including Ward and Bogardus. His fame and celebrity soon led him to the stage where he gave shooting demonstrations with not only shotgun and rifle, but evolved into an incredible pistol shot. From about 1882 to 1889, Mr. Paine was on tour in Europe, Russia and Turkey; continually from 1882 to 1885, with periodic engagements thereafter. Mr. Paine was known as the most famous of all shooters of his day and is one of the pioneers of exhibitionist shooters. During this time, he returned to the U.S. occasionally to participate in shooting contests, most of which he won. During his career, he invented a feather-filled glass target ball and adjustable target sights for his revolvers. During his tours in Europe he performed for virtually all of European royalty as well as the common masses. Mr. Paine died in September, 1889 in Paris and his body was returned to the U.S. for internment. Mr. Paine’s career was short but brilliant. He became a national champion shooter with both shotgun and handgun but was equally skilled with the Winchester rifle. Accompanied by five of Mr. Paine’s original glass balls, two large scrapbooks, mostly filled with press clippings of Mr. Paine’s contests and appearances. Several deal with the Parisian firearms firm of Gastinne-Renette where he fired several records and won a prestigious gold medal. There are several facsimile targets bearing the certification signature of Gastinne Renette. Also included are two 7″x5″ pamphlets dated 1887 entitled “CHEVALIER IRA PAINE, MASTER SHOT OF THE WORLD/A SKETCH OF HIS WONDERFUL CAREER WITH DIRECTIONS HOW TO BECOME A MARKSMAN”. Also included are two wonderful original photographs of Mr. Paine; one from Budapest with him dressed as a nobleman in long coat, jewels and a plumed hat, wearing a sword and having a hand-written inscription on the back in an unknown language dated August 9, 1885; the other, a 9″ x 6 3/4″ studio image of Mr. Paine standing beside an elaborately carved table upon which rests a Colt sgl action Army revolver, an engraved Winchester Model 1866 and a European dbl bbl shotgun. Mr. Paine is in full-length button puttees and wearing what is probably a suede or velvet jacket with a medal on his left chest, wearing a hunting cap and holding this very Steven’s Lord pistol in a shooting stance. Also included is an envelope with a raised gold-embossed cartouche on the flat bearing his name and a Smith & Wesson revolver. Also included is an original issue “The Rifle” magazine dated April, 1887 of magazine which includes a large article about Ira Paine. There are also seven steel engravings of Mr. Paine in formal attire with a medal at his throat. In addition, there are two small leather covered containers, one with a beautiful gold medal with red and white cloissione center with crown and cross; and the other containing a large bronze medal from the Hotel Victoria in London with the likeness of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria. In addition, there are 22 hand-written letters from Ira Paine with postmarks throughout Europe from 1882 through 1885. Most are addressed to his sister Jennie and Mrs. Ira Paine. In addition, there is a small tin candy box containing 30-40 original square-corner playing cards that are gold-embossed with Ira Paine’s cartouche. The steel die for this cartouche is enclosed. In addition, there are 10 more of these cards in one of Mr. Paine’s envelopes which is marked on the front “Shot by Ira A. Paine“. These cards all have bullet holes in various locations. There is also a roll of targets, one of which has been shot. In addition, there is an unusual buckskin flap holster with pearl button that fits the Stevens pistol precisely. Most importantly, is an original poster of Ira A. Paine in multi-color with his image as the centerpiece surrounded by gold geometric borders and his various firearms in the corners including this very engraved Stevens pistol with pearl grips and gold finish. The bottom center pictures a stack of six multi-colored balls over a ribbon inscribed “PAINE’S PAT FILLED GLASS BALLS”. And finally, there are two appearance posters, in Cyrillic writing, for Ira Paine and his wife, dated 1883. This is an extraordinary grouping for an incredible international shooting champion. CONDITION: Pistol and engraved 22 barrel are very fine with the barrel retaining 60-70% original gold wash, strong and bright in sheltered areas, somewhat worn in the center area of the barrel. Frame retains 40-50% strong original gold wash, mostly in sheltered areas and on the butt cap with the balance a dark mustard patina. Grips have a crack and a chip by the right escutcheon, otherwise are sound showing light wear with great fire. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with some light roughness in front of the chamber. The spare .32 caliber barrel is fine and retains traces of dark gold wash, being mostly a gray metal color. Bright shiny bore. The blued .22 barrel with matching serial number, retains about 90% strong original blue turning dull over the mid-part of the barrel. Bright shiny bore. The leather covered medal box has a detached lid, otherwise both boxes are fine. Leather holster is fine with light to moderate soil. Letters, targets, scrapbooks and contents are generally fine but yellowed and brittle with age. The Ira Paine poster is wrinkled with a few holes and edge damage with some light water staining and all three posters are shrink-wrapped to foam board. Target balls are all fine. 4-37575, 37579 (100,000-125,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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